Defendant gets nine years in prison after pipe attack

RICHARD PRIOR

Published Thursday, April 13, 2006

The defendant raised his eyes to the courtroom ceiling and whispered "Thank you" as he heard he would be spending the next nine years in prison.

George Washington Clemmons, 32, pleaded no contest to robbery with a weapon, a first-degree felony; aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony; and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony.

A first-degree felony is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Clemmons, of Ocala, was arrested after he attacked a St. Augustine man with a metal pipe on Jan. 15, then stole his wallet and 2002 Chevrolet Impala.

A deputy later spotted the Impala at a Kangaroo gas station in Hastings and called for backup. The driver led officers on a chase up and down State Road 207 before crashing into a brick house in Palatka, according to the police report.

Clemmons fled and was not arrested until the end of February.

His victim was taken to Flagler Hospital, where he was treated for cuts to his head. He was not admitted.

Clemmons also was ordered to pay $881 to the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund to help pay for his victim's medical treatment.

Following are some of the other cases that were resolved this week in St. Johns County Circuit Court.

Antyon Dewayne Bunyon, 19, pleaded no contest to selling cocaine, a second-degree felony, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

The term is to run concurrently with the 14.2-month prison sentence Bunyon has nearly completed on other cocaine charges.

The defendant, who has about two months left on his prison term, will serve approximately four additional months.

Russell Jackson, 40, was sentenced to time served plus 30 months probation after pleading no contest to shooting or throwing a deadly missile into a building, a second-degree felony.

The "missile" was actually a beer bottle that splashed against a home in an "ongoing dispute," said Assistant State Attorney Bennett Ford.

The incident happened on Jan. 23, the day before the defendant's birthday.

"I guess he was celebrating," Ford said.

When he realized what the missile was, Circuit Judge J. Michael Traynor told Jackson, "I guess you learned the cost of throwing a bottle at a building."

"You got that right," the defendant replied.

Asked if he had any illegal drugs or alcohol in the 24 hours before appearing in court, Jackson said, "Nah. I been locked up 79 days."

Traynor also ordered the defendant to complete an anger-management program.

Cary Levion Hudson, 26, was sentenced to 210 days in jail after admitting a violation on a charge of driving while license was suspended or revoked as a habitual offender.

Hudson was given credit for 75 days served.

Michael Hollis Johnson, 48, received 12.1 months in prison after admitting he battered a police officer in a detention facility, a third-degree felony.

The term is to run concurrently with any other active sentence.

Ronald Harold Johnson, 19, admitted violating probation on charges of cocaine possession and grand theft of a motor vehicle and was given 300 days in jail.

Johnson violated by leaving St. Johns County without permission and by picking up new charges in Volusia and Flagler counties.

Before accepting Johnson's admission, the judge reminded him that resolving these cases did not settle his new charges.

Johnson said he understood.

He was given credit for having served 192 days in jail.

Ronnie Eugene McKnight, 42, was sentenced to time served (45 days) after admitting he violated probation on a charge of grand theft.